University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Off Script: More Than Volleyball for Ndee
9/7/2017 8:33:00 PM | Volleyball, Life Skills
Panther Freshman Earns Helen Faison Scholarship, Looks to Pursue Medical Degree
With some of the top healthcare opportunities in the country, the University of Pittsburgh attracts extraordinary students from all over the world. That was no exception when Jersey Village, Texas, native, Chinaza Ndee, enrolled in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Ndee, one of the recipients of the 2017 Helen Faison Scholarship has plans to pursue a medical degree, and also hopes to lead the Pitt volleyball team to prolonged success.
At just 17 years old, Ndee joined the Panther volleyball team and became the first student-athlete to earn the prestigious Faison scholarship, which is annually awarded to incoming freshmen. In 2017, just three scholarships were granted for 4,057 students, putting Ndee in an elite group.
While the former two-sport high school athlete was thorough in her recruiting process, Pitt stood out from the beginning, offering her the opportunity to pursue her academic goals, while continuing to play volleyball.
"The health sciences department at Pitt is exactly what I wanted," Ndee noted. "I remember when I came on my visit, I told the coaches that I wanted to be pre-med, and there was no hesitation on their end. They told me I could do it. There were some schools that tried to convince me to do physical therapy or nursing, and this was one of the few without reluctance. They were confident in me and thought that I could balance it."
Ndee is accustom to a full schedule, balancing both high school and club volleyball, as well as basketball, in her four years at the Kinkaid School, eventually becoming a Top 100 recruit in volleyball, while still maintaining a near-perfect academic transcript. When colleges started calling in eighth grade, she focused on getting better on the volleyball court, becoming a more versatile player, and continuing to maintain an impeccably high academic pedigree.
Her skill set, both in volleyball and in the classroom, is what attracted head coach Dan Fisher to the adaptable Nigerian-born Ndee, and he made it clear from the start that he, and his staff, would support her decision to begin such a challenging career path.
"We feel like healthcare at Pitt is one of the best sales pitches we've got and we knew early on, just from talking to her mother and her club coaches, how important academics were to her," recalled Fisher. "This was no surprise, but she was very thorough in her recruiting process. The first time we talked to her she had already gotten rid of anyone who didn't have a medical school that met her standards. She waited and really made sure this is where she wanted to be."
Pitt was, in fact, where Ndee wanted to be, and she now follows in the footsteps of one of the most influential women in the history of the University in Dr. Helen Faison.
Faison, who was born in 1924 and passed away at the age of 91 in 2015, was a pioneer in the city of Pittsburgh, earning three education degrees from Pitt as an undergraduate (1946), master's (1955) and PhD (1975). Faison became the first African-American teacher in the city in 1950 and was the first African-American woman to become a high school principal in the Pittsburgh Public Schools in 1968. She ascended the ranks, becoming an assistant superintendent in 1970 and was named the deputy superintendent in 1983, serving as the school district's highest-ranking woman. From 1999 to the mid-2000s she was the interim superintendent, becoming the first black leader of Pittsburgh's public school system.
The comparisons between Ndee and Faison are notable, as the two appear to possess the same passion and drive to excel in their respective fields. The scholarship that bears Faison's name is now a reminder to Ndee of those who came before and encourages a work ethic in the young student-athlete.
"It reminds me that I am more than just a volleyball player," said Ndee. "Sometimes you get caught up and you forget that there are other things out there. It reminds me of my priorities and encourages me to do well. I think it will keep me more grounded and responsible. It's put me in a really good mindset entering this year."
Fisher echoes the same sentiment in his first few months with Ndee on the roster, as the youngster has already made an impact, both on and off the court, inspiring an increased level of competition on the team.
"It's become pretty clear that she's a special kid," he said. "That term gets thrown around a lot with Chi. She's very driven. She came here with the intent to get an advanced degree from Pitt. I hope that this is someone that Pitt can keep in the family even after her playing career is over."
Fisher, Ndee and the rest of the Panthers will get the chance to display their talents this year, coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. In 2016, the Panthers made a run in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Dayton before falling to powerhouse Penn State in round two. Though she's spent just a few months with her comrades, Ndee has high expectations for the 2017 squad.
"I think we're a really good team. The team culture is good, it's really healthy and competitive," she said. "We're competing constantly and we're focused. We're also really close and we trust each other a lot. I think we can make the tournament again and go deeper this time, I think we're just that good of a team."
Her enthusiasm on the court is contagious, and her maturity helps with a team culture that has Fisher excited for the future.
"I don't think most of her teammates really see her as a freshman. She holds herself like someone older," noted the fifth-year head coach. "When you're that driven, you seem older. What we want to do with our volleyball program is recruit players who excel on the court and off. If someone is struggling you say 'look no further than across the locker room.' She's that kind of kid."
It was that philosophy from Fisher and his staff that encouraged Ndee to join the program and continues to inspire her as she battles through her first season.
"Pitt was one of the schools from the very beginning where I always knew where I stood, it was never a question of whether they were interested or not or where I am on their list, I felt like I always knew that Pitt wanted me and I wasn't a second or third option. When I stepped on the court for the first time, I just kept thinking 'I'm actually doing this.' I wasn't scared because I had been playing with the girls for so long that I felt like I could trust them to have my back and it also made me want to work hard for them."
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At just 17 years old, Ndee joined the Panther volleyball team and became the first student-athlete to earn the prestigious Faison scholarship, which is annually awarded to incoming freshmen. In 2017, just three scholarships were granted for 4,057 students, putting Ndee in an elite group.
While the former two-sport high school athlete was thorough in her recruiting process, Pitt stood out from the beginning, offering her the opportunity to pursue her academic goals, while continuing to play volleyball.
"The health sciences department at Pitt is exactly what I wanted," Ndee noted. "I remember when I came on my visit, I told the coaches that I wanted to be pre-med, and there was no hesitation on their end. They told me I could do it. There were some schools that tried to convince me to do physical therapy or nursing, and this was one of the few without reluctance. They were confident in me and thought that I could balance it."
Ndee is accustom to a full schedule, balancing both high school and club volleyball, as well as basketball, in her four years at the Kinkaid School, eventually becoming a Top 100 recruit in volleyball, while still maintaining a near-perfect academic transcript. When colleges started calling in eighth grade, she focused on getting better on the volleyball court, becoming a more versatile player, and continuing to maintain an impeccably high academic pedigree.
Her skill set, both in volleyball and in the classroom, is what attracted head coach Dan Fisher to the adaptable Nigerian-born Ndee, and he made it clear from the start that he, and his staff, would support her decision to begin such a challenging career path.
"We feel like healthcare at Pitt is one of the best sales pitches we've got and we knew early on, just from talking to her mother and her club coaches, how important academics were to her," recalled Fisher. "This was no surprise, but she was very thorough in her recruiting process. The first time we talked to her she had already gotten rid of anyone who didn't have a medical school that met her standards. She waited and really made sure this is where she wanted to be."
Pitt was, in fact, where Ndee wanted to be, and she now follows in the footsteps of one of the most influential women in the history of the University in Dr. Helen Faison.
Faison, who was born in 1924 and passed away at the age of 91 in 2015, was a pioneer in the city of Pittsburgh, earning three education degrees from Pitt as an undergraduate (1946), master's (1955) and PhD (1975). Faison became the first African-American teacher in the city in 1950 and was the first African-American woman to become a high school principal in the Pittsburgh Public Schools in 1968. She ascended the ranks, becoming an assistant superintendent in 1970 and was named the deputy superintendent in 1983, serving as the school district's highest-ranking woman. From 1999 to the mid-2000s she was the interim superintendent, becoming the first black leader of Pittsburgh's public school system.
The comparisons between Ndee and Faison are notable, as the two appear to possess the same passion and drive to excel in their respective fields. The scholarship that bears Faison's name is now a reminder to Ndee of those who came before and encourages a work ethic in the young student-athlete.
"It reminds me that I am more than just a volleyball player," said Ndee. "Sometimes you get caught up and you forget that there are other things out there. It reminds me of my priorities and encourages me to do well. I think it will keep me more grounded and responsible. It's put me in a really good mindset entering this year."
Fisher echoes the same sentiment in his first few months with Ndee on the roster, as the youngster has already made an impact, both on and off the court, inspiring an increased level of competition on the team.
"It's become pretty clear that she's a special kid," he said. "That term gets thrown around a lot with Chi. She's very driven. She came here with the intent to get an advanced degree from Pitt. I hope that this is someone that Pitt can keep in the family even after her playing career is over."
Fisher, Ndee and the rest of the Panthers will get the chance to display their talents this year, coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. In 2016, the Panthers made a run in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Dayton before falling to powerhouse Penn State in round two. Though she's spent just a few months with her comrades, Ndee has high expectations for the 2017 squad.
"I think we're a really good team. The team culture is good, it's really healthy and competitive," she said. "We're competing constantly and we're focused. We're also really close and we trust each other a lot. I think we can make the tournament again and go deeper this time, I think we're just that good of a team."
Her enthusiasm on the court is contagious, and her maturity helps with a team culture that has Fisher excited for the future.
"I don't think most of her teammates really see her as a freshman. She holds herself like someone older," noted the fifth-year head coach. "When you're that driven, you seem older. What we want to do with our volleyball program is recruit players who excel on the court and off. If someone is struggling you say 'look no further than across the locker room.' She's that kind of kid."
It was that philosophy from Fisher and his staff that encouraged Ndee to join the program and continues to inspire her as she battles through her first season.
"Pitt was one of the schools from the very beginning where I always knew where I stood, it was never a question of whether they were interested or not or where I am on their list, I felt like I always knew that Pitt wanted me and I wasn't a second or third option. When I stepped on the court for the first time, I just kept thinking 'I'm actually doing this.' I wasn't scared because I had been playing with the girls for so long that I felt like I could trust them to have my back and it also made me want to work hard for them."
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